MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This morning’s jobs report is a reminder that more work needs to be done to create jobs and grow our economy. Unfortunately, the recently announced Republican summer legislative agenda did not include any comprehensive job-creation legislation. Their summer agenda also made no mention of passing a surface transportation bill that would create jobs, critical legislation to stop student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1, or an extension of middle class tax cuts without holding them hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy. Instead, their agenda is focused on partisan bills that won’t create jobs.

On Wednesday, I was proud to join President Barack Obama for the signing of a bill that Democrats and Republicans were able to work together on: reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. I worked with Republican leadership to negotiate this bipartisan agreement, which will enable the Export-Import Bank to help American businesses remain competitive globally and create jobs. This bill was part of House Democrats’ Make It In America plan, which includes proposals that strengthen manufacturing, support small businesses, and increase competitiveness so that American companies can grow and create jobs here in the US. These are the kinds of bills we need to work together on so that we can create jobs, give confidence to the American people and give businesses certainty to invest, hire and boost our economy.

This week the House passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013. While I voted for the bill, I was disappointed by several partisan provisions that were included. One which targeted project labor agreements with contractors was successfully removed. But the bill freezes pay for federal employees serving our nations veterans – their third year with a pay freeze. Republicans ask federal employees to make continued sacrifices, but refuse to ask millionaires and billionaires to contribute toward our fiscal challenges.

Sincerely yours,

STENY H. HOYER

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